Orchestrating hope through music

A class of students who are just beginning their summer program at RYTMO draw what they feel as music plays in the background during their Level 1 music course. The program is divided into 4 levels, and advances students based on their accomplishments and projects that they set out to do based on their musical interests. From hip-hop to blues, students learn about the history of music and the technology necessary to make their own songs.KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

How you can help

You can download RYTMO's volunteer application from its website, rytmo.org. Through its Music Mentoring Program, volunteers can work one-on-one with students on character development, leadership development, career exploration or academic achievement.

The studio door, while not quite hidden, is hard to see when you’re walking up East North Street in Anaheim. An addition sits behind a one-story house, inconspicuous enough but for the eight teenagers loitering in front of it.

They mill about one early summer afternoon in that way only high school kids do: hands in pockets and heads bowed. They take turns stealing glances at the door, which is still shut.

Reaching Youth Through Music Opportunities (RYTMO) is an after-school, nonprofit music program, teaching such subjects as music history, music theory, songwriting, digital recording, beat-making and music business at Love & Laughter Recording Studios.

It was named Anaheim’s nonprofit of the year in 2009, and Mayor Tom Tait recently recognized it in front of the City Council.

Since 2003, RYTMO has served more than 900 at-risk children in Orange County in a way schools increasingly can’t afford to.

Some of the students have nowhere else to turn, Executive Vice President Mike Anderson said.

Which does not take away from the buzz palpable outside the studio. New students here for orientation stare spellbound at the door, or perhaps through it, imagining what waits inside.

This door marks a way into the music industry, RYTMO Executive Director Joey Arreguin will tell the teenagers more than once in the next two hours.

And it’s a way out: of gangs, of shelters, of the past.

Joey Arreguin and Mike Anderson founded RYTMO in 2003 after decades-long careers in the business. The executive duo have littered songwriting credits throughout TV, music and film industries.

The mayor said RYTMO represents Anaheim’s core values.

“This is our year of kindness,” he said. “This is a perfect example of the power of kindness to change the city on a holistic level.”

Anderson said the proof is in RYTMO’s graduates. Several still live in Orange County and return often to volunteer.

Steve Salazar, 27, of Santa Ana graduated in 2008. He helps teach songwriting and production when he’s not working on his next album with his band, The Renegades.

A class of students who are just beginning their summer program at RYTMO draw what they feel as music plays in the background during their Level 1 music course. The program is divided into 4 levels, and advances students based on their accomplishments and projects that they set out to do based on their musical interests. From hip-hop to blues, students learn about the history of music and the technology necessary to make their own songs. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ivan Morales, who was a student through RYTMO, or Reaching Youth Through Music Opportunities, practices singing for his single song project at the Love & Laughter Music and Recording Studios in Anaheim. As a private studio, the Anaheim-based nonprofit organization provides music education for at-risk kids and will begin its classes on Thursdays for its summer program. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Orlando Torres works on editing a song at the Love & Laughter Music and Recording Studio in Anaheim, where the RYTMO program is based and hosted for its summer program on Thursdays. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A Level 2 group of students talk about their musical interests during a RYTMO music course. The program is divided into 4 levels, and advances students based on their accomplishments and projects that they set out to do based on their musical interests. From hip-hop to blues, students learn about the history of music and the technology necessary to make their own songs. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
John Lars of Anaheim, 19, who graduated from RYTMO last year and now a student at Cal Poly Pomona, plays music for a Level 1 as he volunteers to teach and help out instructors during the summer music program on Thursdays. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Adelaine Garcia, 15,draws what she feels from background music with her Level 1 music course during their summer program at RYTMO. The program is divided into 4 levels, and advances students based on their accomplishments and projects that they set out to do based on their musical interests. From hip-hop to blues, students learn about the history of music and the technology necessary to make their own songs. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Orlando Torres works on editing a song at the Love & Laughter Music and Recording Studio in Anaheim, where the RYTMO program is based and hosted for its summer program on Thursdays. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Reaching Youth Through Music Opportunities, or RYTMO, is an Anaheim-based nonprofit organization that provides music education to at-risk kids. Mayor Tom Tait has recognized the group several times, and a few years back they were named nonprofit of the year. The program is currently having summer courses every Thursday. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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